Helen Stillnight
December 28th of 2012
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter books or any of character, JKR does. No money was made by writing this.
Warnings: Slash. Slight AU. (OOCness), only partly HBP complient, contains some spoilers books 1 to 7.
Pairings: SS/HP, RW/PP, GW/BZ, DM/HG, LL/NL, DT/SF, TN/LB...
Summary: Headmaster had brilliant idea during summer before Harry and Co. 6th year. As term starts in Welcoming Feast he announces that they are taking one of oldest traditions to use again. All students will be paired into life partners, into so called 'marriage' by Sorting Hat. What this will mean for Harry and his friends?
Enjoy!
Helen Stillnight Presents
Age Old Traditions
Chapter one - Pairing
Students were gathering to Great Hall to wait Sorting to begin to so that they could get to eat and then go to sleep. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting together in group and looking at teacher's table. Harry saw new Potions teacher Slughorn there and Snape was there too. He knew that Snape would taking position of Defense teacher this year. He didn't have grade high enough for potions so he had thought that he wouldn't have to see Snape other than meals and randomly at hallways. But no, Dumbledore had to give DADA position to Snape and hire new potions teacher. Harry suspected that old man did it just to spite Harry for causing mass destruction in his office at end of fifth year when...
When Sirius died.
Pain was stabbing at his heart painfully and numbing his mind. He had lost person who was truly part of his family. Dursleys didn't even count in that regard. Sure, Remus was friend of his parents and Sirius' but he was not really his family even if man counted him part of his pack.
Harry's mind was drawn suddenly back to present time when First years were led in Great Hall by stern looking McGonagall. Harry halfheartedly listened and watched sorting, his mind was drawn to head table again. Despite that Snape had gotten DADA position he looked sour, grim and down right murderous even, but this time those obsidian eyes were not directed to Harry for once, but rather to headmaster. Harry didn't know reason why Snape was glaring daggers at headmaster but he felt justified, that he wasn't only one who felt angry at old man.
Sorting ended soon enough and Dumbledore stood up. Harry caught sight of his right hand, it looked blackened and withered, dead. He wondered what had happened his hand but he didn't comment on it.
"Welcome for another year to Hogwarts for magical education. Older students, welcome back. I have few news to hand out before we can all dig into delicious meal waiting us. This year Horace Slughorn will be taking position of Potions Professor", Dumbledore droned on and this announcement was met with hall wide, furious applause.
Harry snorted. Just you wait until he announces DADA position, he thought sourly.
"And our very own Severus Snape has agreed on to take position of Defense against Dark Arts Professor", Dumbledore continued and Snape looked even more sour and annoyed than before.
Deafening silence was met that announcement. Not one person moved or spoke at first but then whisperings and mutterings started. Harry got annoyed by that and started to applaud for Snape, even if to end silence and mutterings.
Ron and Hermione looked at Harry like he had grown second head. In fact every other person was staring at him. But soon enough Slytherins joined his applaud and other houses started to give rather feeble applause.
"Harry why did you...? I thought that you hate the git!", Ron whined when food appeared to tables.
"I wouldn't go as far a to say that I hate him. It's more like rather intense dislike. And look at him, the way he is glaring at Slughorn and Dumbledore. It's like he didn't want to take DADA position but rather remain at Potions", Harry said and nodded towards head table, where Snape was indeed attempting wandless and wordless Avada Kedavra at Headmaster. "I think he was forced onto DADA position."
Hermione looked at them and noticed that Harry was actually right about that. "Now that you mention it... He does look rather... Sour and angry", Hermione said feebly.
"Blimey..." Ron whimpered when former Potions Professor shot Gryffindor Trio murderous glare, especially at Harry. "This year is going to be pure hell.."
Harry nodded, not feeling so hungry but managed to eat few bites of his food on his plate. Feast was soon ending and Headmaster stood once again up and beamed everyone in Hall the way Harry just knew that it was meaning unpleasant things for them.
"Now that everyone are adequately watered and fed, I have one last announcement to make", Dumbledore said and his eyes twinkled ominously. "Over the years many old and ancient traditions have been quit in our school and new ones have been made, but now is time to instigate one of the oldest ones back to use. Tomorrow everyone will gather in here after breakfast and Sorting Hat will pair you with person that is most compatible personality and soul wise. You may not argue against Hat's choice and it will be binding. The person chosen for you will be your life partner, and in essentially it means life long bonding with that said person. In other words it means marriage."
Silence was so deafening that one could have heard needle dropping to floor. And then shouts of protests and complaining begin.
Harry sat in his seat stunned and shocked, like Hermione and Ron did. "Why did he now instigate that stupid old tradition...?" Ron cursed and even Hermione didn't chide him for his language, she was too shocked for it. "Just think if you are paired with Slytherin!"
Harry paled from mere thought and looked at head table. He noted that Snape had already left hall, as if he couldn't bear to be in same room with anyone at the moment. He glanced quickly at Slytherin table and noticed with amusement that Malfoy was ranting at Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini about something, most likely about this bonding - marriage - thingy. Parkinson was patting consolingly her friend onto back.
He wondered with whom he would end up with. He didn't wish to burden anyone with what he was forced to do. With whomever he would be paired would end up in mortal danger, and he didn't want that. Perhaps he could beg the Hat not pair him with anyone but let him remain alone.
When other Gryffindors stood up and started to move towards to entrance hall to go Tower Harry asked Hermione for password, and after getting it he stayed alone in great hall for long time thinking about this new, insane twist.
He didn't even notice when it was midnight. He just stared enchanted ceiling at twinkling stars and cresent moon.
He was found from same spot from Gryffindor table an hour later by Snape who was patrolling hall ways. "Potter! What the hell are still here doing? Five points from Gryffindor for being out off the bed in middle of night!", Snape said with low voice and Harry was startled out of his thoughts.
"Sir!" Harry squeaked and sprung to his feet abruptly.
"Potter, I repeat, what the hell are you still doing here in Great Hall? Others have gone to bed for hours ago!", Snape whisper sort of snarled. "To bed, where you too should be currently."
"I - I - I was just thinking. This new insane thing Dumbledore has now planning", Harry said with low whisper like voice. "One have to wonder what caused him to resort this sort of insanity now."
There was tense silence and then Snape spoke with whispered tone. "It seems that we both are thinking along the same lines. It seems that sanity, how ever questionable it may have been, has finally abandoned Headmaster. He does most absurd things every turn that makes one truly wonder if he truly is fully possession of his own mind."
Harry snorted softly. "Apparently we really are thinking same thing. Did Headmaster have difficulty this year to find DADA teacher that much that he gave position to you?" he asked and hurried to explain what he meant when he saw that Snape's face was turning thunderous as if he had been just insulted. "I didn't mean to insult, sir. It just that you seemed rather angry at feast when he announced that Slughorn was taking your place at potions. I got the feeling that you would have rather remained teaching potions than DADA", he said and grimaced then. "I met Slughorn when Dumbl - Headmaster Dumbledore took me to help him to persuade that smarmy up git teaching here. He's is nice enough but... he's tiresome and really smarmy up. Already collecting me to his Slug Club, where I have no slightest desire to be." Harry made face in remembrance of meeting man in train.
Snape had weird sort of look in his face. "Tiresome indeed... He was my teacher when I was still student here, too. He has indeed this annoying habit collecting promising students to his little club", he muttered and looked at enchanted ceiling showing night sky. "But off to bed with you now, Potter. Should I caught you again this night wandering around it will be detention for week and more lost points."
Harry smiled briefly at his professor and walked past him, muttering. "Night, professor."
Next morning rose bright and early. Harry didn't have even slightest desire to go Great Hall for this new insanity to be paired up with someone unknown person for rest of his life.
He dragged himself unwillingly to Hall while Hermione chattered with him unceasingly about this new - or rather age old tradition. With groan he hit his head to table when he saw Headmaster come in carrying Sorting Hat and his eyes twinkling madly. "It's official, he's gone off the edge", Harry mumbled, refusing to eat anything, feeling too sick to be able to. He restlessly stirred his tea looking around hall anxiously.
"I think this is good idea, Harry", Hermione said. "In old times when this tradition was still in use school used to have highest marks in Europe and it was so much more united than it is today", she said excitedly.
"Hermione", Harry said pointedly. "As much that might be true, I don't think that it would be good thing for me or one who ends up paired with me. I have bloody Voldemort after my arse - not literally of course", he added hurriedly as he saw Ron turn sickly shade of pale green and made sort of strangled noise. "Oh for the Merlin's sake Ron, get your head out of gutter! That was disgusting thought."
Harry watched as pairing progress begin slowly from first years, processing up to second years and then third years and so forth. It took long hours before it reached 6th years.
Harry watched with fascination as his year mates were paired up. Hat didn't call out names but rather give piece of parchment after it had taken turn to look at their minds. Hermione was getting nervous, Harry took, amused, note. When Hermione was called she walked up to chair and sat down to it and when Hat was placed her head, she closed her eyes. It took only five or so minutes and when Hat was done she had lost all color from her face and she returned to Gryffindor table hand grasping with death grip piece of parchment.
Hermione wordlessly showed parchment to Harry and Ron. They were shocked. "Still think that this is good idea?", Harry asked quietly not to give anything to out others.
"Bloody hell, Hermione. This is mental, absolutely mental. Of all people you had to get stuck with Malfoy for rest of your life", Ron cursed as soon as Hermione had erected privacy spell around three of them.
"I take back my words, Harry. This IS insane", Hermione said in verge of tears and face ashen pale. "Why it had to be him?"
"I don't know, 'Mione", Harry said and rubbed soothingly Hermione's shoulders. "I had chat with Snape last night and he agreed with me that this is completely insane. If Snape agrees with me then this has to be VERY bad."
Harry looked up in Hall and saw Malfoy strut smugly to chair, but his smug expression soon turned one of shocked, outrage and bewilderment. Harry had laugh at him. "Look at Malfoy, he got his answer. No doubt that he was expecting to end up with some pure-blooded, vapid bint, rather than extremely smart muggleborn."
Hermione looked up and saw Malfoy look so shell shocked and bewildered that she had to give wet laughter. "I think that this will serve him right. If I am to get married to him, of all people then I will do everything in my power to make him regret the day that he ever dared to call me a 'mudblood'."
Ron cheered her. "That's right, 'Mione! You have good right hook, use it if he ever get calls you with that disgusting word again", he said. "And look at that, it seems that you are not only Gryffindor ending up with Slytherin. Laverder got Nott."
"You are right", Hermione said with chuckle, cheering up. "Perhaps this won't be so bad."
"Perhaps. Who knows. I will try argue my way out of this with Hat anyway. I don't want put anyone in danger for marrying me. Not while I have bloody Voldemort after my..." Harry said.
"Don't Say it again, Harry! It gave a really bad mental image", Ron shuddered turning green again.
They laughed at that, even though the thought itself was rather disturbing in all honesty. Hermione took privacy screen down and they continued to watch pairing process. All too soon it was Harry's turn.
With resignation he walked to up front and sat to chair, closing his eyes, and Hat was dropped down to his head.
"Hello again, Mr. Potter", Sorting Hat greeted him kindly. "Too bad that I can't sort you again right now. I still insist that you belong to Slytherin even though you are rather admirable Gryffindor."
"Hello", Harry muttered. "Can I talk you out from pairing me with other student? I wouldn't want put him or her into mortal danger, what with Voldemort or rather Tom Riddle trying to kill me constantly", he said pleadingly, nearly begging. "Please?"
"I am afraid that it is not possible, Mr Potter. I dare say that this person you will be paired with be help you immensely. Now, let me take a closer look at your soul so that I will know who you will be paired with", Hat said and Harry's mind went sort of blank haze. It took eternity in Harry's opinion but in reality it only took three or four minutes. "Ah, I see. This is most interesting turn. Well, it shall be done", muttered mostly to himself, sounding slightly surprised.
Harry didn't like Hat's tone at all. He was too afraid to ask who he would be paired with. Hat was taken from his head and piece of folded parchment materialized this hand. "Congratulations, Mr. Potter. And good luck, you will need it", Hat's voice said kindly as he stood up.
"Thank you, Hat", Harry replied dejectedly and walked up to Gryffindor table, without looking up to his parchment. He wasn't yet ready to see whom name it contained.
He sat down to his set next to Hermione and opposite of Ron. "Who you ended up with?", Hermione asked nervously.
"Hat didn't tell me name, only gave parchment, and I didn't look at it yet. Judging Hat's reaction, I'm not sure if I dare even look at it", Harry replied.
"Well, you don't have to yet. You can do it when we are out of here and you can go to Room of Requirement, alone if you want", Hermione said.
Ron was starting to look queasy as pairing was reaching W. Lunch had passed times ago and he hadn't even eaten anything due being so nervous.
When Ron's turn finally came he looked slightly green, and Harry and Hermione worried that he would actually faint or puke because of his nerves. As he was sitting in chair other two talked. "Who do you think Ron would end up with?", Harry asked looking around Hall, trying to guess who it could be.
"There isn't much of choices left. It could be someone of students that are still here, or someone who has graduated recently , Hermione said with low voice and looked at Slytherin table and saw Malfoy staring at her. She simply brushed his stare away and searched table with her eyes. Pansy Parkinson was staring intently at Ron. "I think it might be Parkinson. She is staring rather... Intensively at him", she said with feeble voice. "And Malfoy is staring at me again."
Harry's head snapped at Slytherin table and he gave his most threatening, warning glare at Malfoy, as if daring to mess with Hermione and to see consequences of that. Malfoy turned pale and averted his eyes quickly. "If Malfoy dares to hurt you, I will hex his bullocks off and transfigure them into earrings for you, 'Mione", he stated so solemnly that Hermione couldn't help herself but to laugh mirthful tears in her eyes for that.
Ron returned to table, slightly pale but other wise okay. "Okay, what got Hermione laugh so much that she is crying?" he asked from Harry, who repeated his solemn vow to Ron who had similar reaction as Hermione had.
After they calmed a bit Harry asked Ron about his pair. "Pansy Parkinson", Ron replied with groan. "I have to marry a Slytherin."
"Hey, it isn't so bad. It could have been Bulstrode", Harry consoled him and handed him a Chocolate frog and another one for Hermione. "I hope these will cheer you little bit."
Hermione chuckled and gave hug him. "Thanks Harry, you are best", she said.
"Yeah, mate", Ron and opened his box. Frog tried to jump off but he quickly snatched it from hind-leg He bit off it and peered into box for what card he had gotten. "Blimey, Harry... I got most rarest card...!"
"Really?", Harry perked up. "Then congratulations are in order, I think", he said cheerfully.
"I got Salazar Slytherin", Hermione piped up and looked at with fascination. "He's quite handsome. Looks much like Harry, don't you think, Ron?"
Ron took at Hermione's card and nearly dropped it. "Ah bloody hell...! He could be your twin, Harry, if you were bit older, had longer hair, got rid of your glasses and covered up your scar", he whispered with awe. "Do you think that you really would be related to the Slytherin after all, Harry? You do speak a parseltongue, I mean. This says that only flesh and blood of the Slytherin line can speak a parseltongue."
Harry helplessly shrugged. "I don't know. Dumbledore insisted that my ability is from Voldemort when he tried to kill when I was baby", he said with small voice. "Is there some way to find out if I really am related to Salazar Slytherin, Hermione?"
"Well, there are some very difficult and complicated charms. Potion would be easier to make than to attempt charm", Hermione replied. "I can help you if you really want to try find it out", she offered.
"Try imagining You-know-Who's reaction if you really are descended from the Slytherin. But that would mean that you are related to him as well", Ron snorted.
Harry chortled and shook his head in amusement. "Quite heavy blow for to old Tommy-boy."
"Oh, shush you now", Hermione said but her eyes as well were dancing with mirth.
Later that evening Harry was sitting alone in Room of Requirement staring at fire crackling merrily in fireplace. He had yet to summon enough courage to look at his piece of parchment. He knew he couldn't postpone it much longer. No student had come to him after Pairing had ended so he assumed that it was someone who had recently graduated. Or if it wasn't, then they lacked nerve to come up like Harry did.
He took deep breath and pulled parchment from his pocket, playing with it. He closed his eyes and folded it open, and then opened his eyes. His breath hitched in his throat as he stared at name frozen in place.
"No no no no no... NO, it just can't be!", he mumbled and started to rock himself with mutter of 'nononono's.
To floor fluttered parchment, written with green in was simple words deciding his fate.
'Bond Mate of Hadrian James Potter:
Severus Tobias Snape, birthdate January 9th 1960.
House: Slytherin.
Graduation: June 30th 1978
Occupation: Defense Against Dark Art's Professor and House Head of Slytherin in Hogwarts School Witchcraft and Wizardry. Potions Master.
Regards, Sorting Hat of Hogwarts.'
This is first chapter. I have second ready and third one under progress. But I will have to wait to see how you dear readers will respond to this. I know this may be similar one other fic, I got idea and inspiration sort of from there quite sometime ago, but I have only now recently gotten myself to write it, after much pondering and debating. So, yeah, I hope you like.
Regards, Stillnight.